Sufi back in the fold...

NATIONAL Juniors coach Arul Selvaraj yesterday named 19 players for the Junior Asia Cup in Kuantan in Nov 14-22.
  The extra player will be dropped after a friendly match against the national seniors on Nov 9.
  "We dropped two players from the Sultan of Johor Cup (SOJC) due to injuries, and included two players who were earlier on the crock list. I have named one extra player for the 'just in case' scenario and we will have the final list after a game with the seniors," said Arul.
  Hamstring injuries floored Sufi Ismat and Rafidzul Ezry just before the SOJC, but they have recovered for the Asia Cup. Arul included Ahmad Ashraf as the 19th, while Nor Azrul Rahman and Aminuddin Zain were the only casualties from the SOJC team.
  The target is to play in the semi-finals and qualify for the Junior World Cup in India next December.
  The International Hockey Federation (FIH) have reserved four slots for Asia, including hosts India, so Malaysia must play in the semi-final to grab one of the three available places.
  Malaysia are in Group A with India, China and Japan, while in Group B are South Korea, Pakistan, Oman and Bangladesh.
  The group stages will be for placing while one win in the quarter-finals, where all eight teams qualify, will cement a place in the Junior World Cup.
  "The format looks easy, but only if we finish among the top-two in Group A for an easier last-eight playoff. That has been drilled into the boys, and they are clear about the mission," said Arul.
  Malaysia won bronze in the SOJC, where they lost 2-1 to India.
  "India will be our toughest opponents in Group A, and after playing with them in the SOJC, we have our plans to tackle them in Kuantan," said Arul.
  India only lost to two matches to Britain in the SOJC, 3-2 in the pool and after a 2-2 draw, lost the final 4-3 on penalty shoot out.
  "Fitness has been the focus after SOJC, and I am proud to say that the team are at their best leading to the tournament and we should reach our target."
  Malaysia are the Junior Asia Cup defending champions and the highest ranked team in Kuantan after finishing fourth in the last Junior World Cup, where South Korea ended eighth, Pakistan ninth, and India 10th.
  NATIONAL Juniors: Ridzwan Azmi (Gk), Adi Fazri Rahim (Gk), Najib Abu Hassan (capt), Nik Aiman, Ashran Hamsani, Meor Azuan, Haziq Samsul, Firdaus Omar, Khaliq Hamirin, Norsyafiq Sumantri, Amirol Aideed, Shahril Saabah, Zulpidaus Mizun, Syed Syafiq, Azwar Rahman, Rafizul Ezry, Najmi Farizal, Ahmad Ashraf, Sufi Ismat.
  Coach: Arul Selvaraj; Asst Coaches: Jivan Mohan and Amin Rahim; Manager: Mirnawan Nawawi.

Under-14 Round Two: Show of strength begins

ROUND TWO of the Natonal Under-14 hockey tournament starts Thursday, with girls' champion Sabah grouped with Kuala Lumpur and Malacca in Group Y.

  In Group X are Penang, Selangor and Singapore. The six teams finished top-two in their respective groups, and will play two more matches against each other to decide the bronze and gold play-off.

  In the boys tournament, In Group X are Perak, Malacca and Penang while in Group Y are defending champions Sabah, Selangor and Johor.

  RESULTS: Boys' Group A: Perak 3 Terengganu 2, Kedah 1 Pahang 2; Group B: Selangor 2 K Lumpur 2, Kelantan 2 Penang 3.

  GIRLS' Group B: Penang 8 Terengganu 0, K Lumpur 1 Johor 3.

  THURSDAY: Boys Round Two: Group X: Penang v Perak (MBMB Pitch I, 6.30pm); Group Y: Selangor v Sabah (MBMB Pitch II, 8.15pm).

  Girls Round Two: Group X: Selangor v Penang (MBMB Pitch I, 4.45pm); Group Y: Sabah v K Lumpur (MBMB Pitch II, 4.45pm).

  FRIDAY: Boys Round Two: Group Y: Sabah v Johor (MBMB Pitch I, 6.30pm); Group X: Perak v Malacca (MBMB Pitch I, 8.15pm).

  Girls Round Two: Group Y: K Lumpur v Malacca (MBMB Pitch I, 4.45pm); Group X: Penang v Singapore (MBMB Pitch II, 4.45pm).

  SATURDAY: Boys Round Two: Group X: Malacca v Penang (MBMB Pitch I, 6.30pm); Group Y: Johor v Selangor (MBMB Pitch I, 8.15pm).

  Girls Round Two: Group X: Singapore v Selangor (MBMB PItch I, 4.45pm); Group Y: Malacca v Sabah (MBMB Pitch II, 4.45pm).

  Note: All matches in Malacca.

Under-14: Impressive show from Sabah girls

GIRLS' defending champions Sabah powered into the second round of the National Under-14 hockey tournament when they hammered Perak 5-1 in Malacca yesterday.

  Sabah, on nine points after three matches, have been impressive as they beat Selangor 4-0 and Kedah 5-1 in earlier matches to top Group A.

  Yesterday, the Sabah took the lead off Nurekhmah Najwa in the 10th minute, but Perak's Dian Nursyakira Najwa equalised in the 37th minute.

  But a four-goal blitz from Nor Asfarina (38th), Kersimah Kauran (42nd), Kersimah Kauran (45th) and Aj Dianisa Diva (54th) saw them sail away with three points.

  RESULTS: Boys' Group A: Terengganu 2 Pahang 6, Johor 5 Kedah 0; Group B: Negri 3 Kelantan 3, K Lumpur 0 Penang 1; Group C: Sabah 5 Malacca 0, Perlis 0 Singapore 0.

   Girls' Group A: Kedah 1 Selangor 3, Sabah 5 Perak 1; Group B: Johor 0Penang 1, Negri 0 K Lumpur 1; Group C: Pahang 0 Singapore 1, Malacca 7 Perlis 3.

  TODAY: Boys' Group A: Perak v Terengganu (MBMB Pitch I, 6.30pm), Kedah v Pahang (MBMB Pitch I, 8.15pm); Group B: Selangor v K Lumpur (MBMB Pitch I, 4.45pm), Kelantan v Penang (MBMB Pitch II, 4.45pm).

  GIRLS' Group B: Penang v Terengganu (MBMB Pitch I, 7.30am), K Lumpur v Johor (MBMB Pitch II, 7.30am).

  Note: All matches in Malacca.

Perak boys check into 2nd round

PERAK boys checked into the second round of the National Under-14 hockey tournament in Malacca when they beat Pahang 4-1 Monday.
  Perak are on nine points after three matches, while defending champions Pahang lost both their matches.
  Pahang took the lead off Muhammad Syamim in the 35th minute, but Perak came back strongly after the breather with goals from  Afiq Iqbal (41st), Syazwan Syafiq (52nd), Affiful Najmi (56th) and Fahmi B Khalid (62nd).
  In the Girls' tournament, defending champions Sabah claimed their second win when they hammered Kedah 5-1.
  RESULTS: BOYS': Group A: Terengganu 1 Johor 2, Pahang 1 Perak 4; Group B: K Lumpur 2 Negri 1, Penang 1 Selangor 5.
  GIRLS': Group A: Selangor 4 Perak 2, Kedah 1 Sabah 5; Group B: Terengganu 1 Negri 6, Penang 2 K Lumpur 3; Group C: Perlis 1 Pahang 5, Singapore 1 Malacca 3.
  TUESDAY: Boys' Group A: Terengganu v Pahang (MBMB Pitch I, 3pm), Johor v Kedah (MBMB Pitch II, 3pm); Group B: Negri v Kelantan (MBMB Pitch I, 4.45pm), K Lumpur v Penang (MBMB Pitch II, 4.45pm); Group C: Sabah v Malacca (MBMB Pitch I, 6.30pm), Perlis v Singapore (MBMB Pitch II, 8.15pm).
   Girls' Group A: Kedah v Selangor (STM, 7.30am), Sabah v Perak (MBMB Pitch II, 9.15am); Group B: Johor v Penang (MBMB Pitch II, 7.30am), Negri v K Lumpur (MBMB Pitch II, 7.30am); Group C: Pahang v Singapore (STM, 9.15am), Malacca v Perlis (MBMB Pitch I, 9.15am).
  WEDNESDAY: Boys' Group A: Perak v Terengganu (MBMB Pitch I, 6.30pm), Kedah v Pahang (MBMB Pitch I, 8.15pm); Group B: Selangor v K Lumpur (MBMB Pitch I, 4.45pm), Kelantan v Penang (MBMB Pitch II, 4.45pm).
  GIRLS' Group B: Penang v Terengganu (MBMB Pitch I, 7.30am), K Lumpur v Johor (MBMB Pitch II, 7.30am).
  Note: All matches in Malacca.

U14: Champions Sabah off to great start

NATIONAL Under-14 Girls' champions Sabah got of to a roaring start when they hammered Selangor 4-0 in Malacca Sunday.
  Sabah upset Kuala Lumpur 2-1 in last year's final and look good to defend their title.
  Sufiamira Basri started the rout with a 12th minute field goal, while Syunita Manap (21st), Kersimah Kauran (22nd) and Aina Ruzana Azlan (68th).
  RESULTS: BOYS': Group A: Johor 2 Pahang 0, Perak 4 Kedah 1; Group B: Negri 4 Penang 0, Selangor 8 Kelantan 1; Group C: Perlis 0 Sabah 7, Malacca 2 Singapore 0.
  GIRLS': Group A: Perak 5 Kedah 0, Sabah 4 Selangor 0; Group B: Terengganu 1 K Lumpur 7, Johor 2 Negri 3; Group C: Perlis 1 Singapore 1, Malacca 3 Pahang 2.
  MONDAY: BOYS': Group A: Terengganu v Johor (MBMB Pitch I, 4.45pm), Pahang v Perak (MBMB Pitch II, 4.45pm); Group B: K Lumpur v Negri (MBMB Pitch I, 6.30pm), Penang v Selangor (MBMB Pitch II, 8.15pm).
  GIRLS': Group A: Selangor v Perak (MBMB Pitch I, 7.30am), Kedah v Sabah (MBMB Pitch II, 7.30am); Group B: Terengganu v Negri (STM, 9.15am), Penang v K Lumpur (MBMB Pitch II, 9.15am); Group C: Perlis v Pahang (STM, 7.30am), Singapore v Malacca (MBMB Pitch I, 9.15am).
  Note: All matches in Malacca.